Montessori Director (Grant Funded)

Cincinnati Public Schools

Montessori Director Position Summary

Position Description

Position Title: Montessori Director
Reports To: Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools
Salary Schedule: Director I
Contract Type: Limited 260-261 days
Funding Source: Grant-Funded Position

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Montessori Director is the strategic leader responsible for the vision high-fidelity implementation and continuous improvement of Montessori education across Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). This role oversees the integration of Montessori philosophy with state and national standards manages community and professional partnerships (including the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)) and directs the districts Montessori Teacher Education Program (Montessori Training Institute).

This position is accountable for the successful implementation of a multi-year externally funded grant supporting the Montessori Lab School at Bramble Nature Campus and the district-wide Montessori Educator Preparation Program. The Director is responsible for meeting defined performance benchmarks tied to student outcomes staffing accreditation and program implementation as well as ensuring compliance with all grant reporting and funding requirements.

As a highly visible leadership role the Director will represent CPS Montessori programming internally and externally contributing to Board communications community engagement and national partnerships.

This role will establish systems structures and processes for a growing district-wide initiative and serves as a bridge between classroom practice and district-level strategy ensuring every student has equitable access to a high-quality Montessori experience.

Essential Responsibilities

Teacher Education Program (Montessori Training Institute) Leadership

• Oversee supervision and evaluation of Montessori Training Institute personnel
• Design and implement program structures including syllabi handbooks and delivery models
• Establish and maintain model classrooms for observation practicum and professional learning
• Serve as liaison to accrediting organizations (AMS and MACTE) to secure and maintain program accreditation
• Lead transition of the Montessori Training Institute from pilot to a sustainable model including potential revenue generation through external participation
• Partner with HR Legal Labor Relations and school leadership on staffing and program implementation
• Ensure development of a qualified pipeline of credentialed Montessori educators to meet district staffing needs.
• Monitor and report on program outcomes aligned to grant performance benchmarks

Curriculum Instruction & Program Fidelity

• Refine Montessori curriculum aligned to Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) standards and assessment expectations
• Support schools through walkthroughs coaching co-teaching and instructional planning
• Lead data analysis cycles to inform instructional improvements
• Ensure consistent implementation of Montessori practices across all CPS Montessori classrooms
• Monitor instructional quality tied to district and grant-defined success metrics
• Support evaluation of Montessori program implementation in partnership with school and district leadership

Professional Development & Capacity Building

• Design and facilitate professional learning for teachers and administrators
• Lead instructional walkthroughs and look-fors to drive continuous improvement
• Maintain documentation of coaching cycles and professional growth
• Build district-wide capacity to sustain Montessori programming beyond the grant period

Grant Accountability Compliance & Reporting

• Lead implementation of all grant-funded initiatives associated with the Montessori Lab School and Montessori Training Institute
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements timelines and deliverables
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) including:
• Student achievement and performance outcomes.
• Staffing and credentialing rates
• Enrollment and retention metrics
• Lead development validation and submission of all required grant reports ensuring accuracy timeliness and alignment with funding requirements
• Coordinate site visits evaluations and stakeholder meetings associated with grant oversight
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for ensuring continued eligibility for grant funding

Operations Budget & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Develop and manage the Montessori program budget in alignment with district policies and procedures
• Ensure all expenditures comply with grant requirements and allowable use of funds
• Partner with the Treasurers Office on financial planning monitoring and reporting
• Ensure fiscal stewardship of grant funds including compliance with reimbursement structures and audit requirements
• Collaborate with Curriculum Talent Acquisition Communications and school leadership to align strategy and execution
• Work in partnership with assigned instructional coaches and support staff to implement Montessori programming across schools

Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation

• Represent CPS Montessori programming in Board presentations community engagement and professional forums
• Build and maintain partnerships with local state and national Montessori organizations
• Promote CPS Montessori initiatives to support recruitment program visibility and long-term sustainability

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of Montessori Training Institute staff and other assigned personnel
• Indirect leadership and influence across multiple school sites instructional staff and administrators
• Direct supervision building leadership in Montessori Schools.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Certification

• Masters Degree required (Educational Leadership or related field preferred)
• Montessori Credential (AMS AMI or MACTE-accredited) required or obtained within one year
• AMS Membership required or obtained within one year
• Principal License preferred
• Superintendent License preferred
• Ability to meet any state or district requirements related to supervision and evaluation of staff if applicable

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years successful experience as a Montessori teacher (post-credential)
• Demonstrated experience leading adults (coaching mentoring or instructional leadership)
• Experience managing programs budgets and cross-functional initiatives
• Demonstrated success managing complex initiatives with measurable outcomes and accountability
• Experience working with external partners grants or compliance-driven programs strongly preferred
• Experience building or launching new programs or initiatives strongly preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of Montessori philosophy and instructional practice
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills
• Ability to build trust and collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities high-stakes accountability and cross-functional leadership
• Strong communication skills including the ability to present to executive leadership boards and external stakeholders

Employment Terms

This position is funded through a grant currently approved through June 30 2028.

Employment in this role is contingent upon:

• Continued availability of grant funding
• Satisfactory progress toward grant-defined performance benchmarks
• Ongoing programmatic need

Nothing in this posting should be construed as a guarantee of continued employment beyond the grant period.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary is commensurate with experience and per applicable administrative agreement
• Benefits: Comprehensive package including healthcare retirement (STRS/SERS) and professional development

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cincinnati Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal and state employment laws.

Physical Requirements & Accommodations

Certain positions may require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

Required Experience:

Director